Rotating window-washer



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. B; DAV-ISL ROTATING WINDOW WASHER.

N0. 481,140. Patented Aug. 16,1892.

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A TTORIVE Y.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. B. DAVIS. ROTATING WINDOW WASHER.

No. 481,140. Patented Aug. 16, 1892.

INVENTOI? I BY I I A TTOH/VE Y.

UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

HIRAM B. DAVIS, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

ROTATING WIN DOW-WAS H ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 481,140, dated August16, 1892.

Application filed June 2 9, 1891.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HIRAM B. DAVIS, a citi: zen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State ofColorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRotatingWVindow-Washers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in window-washers; and the objectof my improvement is to provide a device of the class stated which shallbe adapted to utilize and be operated by water from ahydrant or othersuitable source of water -power. This improved window-washer consists,essentially, of a roller-brush mounted in a frame and provided withsuitable means of applying a jet of water thereto, so that the force ofthe jet of water shall cause the brush to revolve rapidly, therebycausing the brush to rub with a rapid motion the surface over which thedevice is passed, the water at the same time being applied to thesurface. In this Way we have the constant application of fresh water tothe surface being washed, and also a rapid scrubbing or scouring, thetwo conditions being so combined as to produce the best possible resultwith but little effort on the part of the operator.

Though my improved device is designed more particularly for washingwindows, it will be seen that it may be employed quite advantageously inwashing any surface where an abundant supply of water may be used, as inwashing windows, in cleaning passenger-coaches, in washing carriages,&c.

My improved device will be fully understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of my improved device, aportion of the outer shield being broken away to show the internalconstruction of the device. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Figs. 3,4, and 5 are side views of modified forms of the device.

Serial No. 397,773- (No model.)

Fig. 6 is an end view of the form shown in Fig. 3. Figs. 7 and 8 aresections on the lines 00 0c and y y, respectively.

Referring now to these views, wherein similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts of the mechanism, the nu- ;meral 1designates the handle, which is bifurcated into two arms 2, in the freeextremities of which arms is journaled a shaft 3. On this shaft ismounted a roller-brush 4. The extremities of shaft 3 are provided with aseries of paddles or cups 5, located at suitable intervals therearoundand extending ra dially therefrom. These cups or paddles are closed attheir outer extremities and open at their inner extremities, and are soarranged that the water thrown thereon is conducted to the brush on themiddle part of the shaft. The Water is conducted from any suitablehydrant or source of water under pressure to these cups or paddles 5 bymeans of a hose 6, which bifurcates into two branches 7, the hose andits branches being fixedly secured to the handle in any suitable manner,as by the use of arms 8. By this means it will be seen that the water isapplied directly to the cups 5, and also to the brush, the striking ofthe jet of water against the cups causing the roller to revolve with aspeed dependent upon the force with which the water is applied, therebyapplying simultaneously both Water and friction to the surface beingcleansed.

Surrounding and covering roller 3 with its brush, together with its cupportions, is a semi-cylindrical shield 9, the object of said shieldbeing to prevent the water from being thrown out in all directions andwetting the operator, the shield being so located as to allow the brushto be applied to the surface being cleansed, and at the same timeconfining the Water to the brush and to said surface. On the side ofshield 9 next the handle is a flange 10, extending parallel to thesurface to be washed, said flange serving to prevent the water splashingfrom under the shield, thereby causing the water used to run down thewindow-pane.

Pivoted on shield 9 are the flexible rollers 11, the object of saidrollers being to reduce to a minimum the friction between the device andsurface over which it is passed, and also to hold the shield aslightdistance therefrom, so as to allow the water to flow freely down theglass.

In the modified form illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6 it will be observedthe roller 3,with its brush 4 and pockets or paddles 5, as well as theshield 9, together with the flange 10 and the rollers 11, areessentially the same as are those shown in Figs. 1 and 2;but in thisform the hose 6, with its arms 7, is dispensed with, and the handle 12,together with its branched arms 13, are made hollow, and so serve asconduits for the water, a hose connecting the device with the hydrant,being screwed to the free extremity of handle 12. In this form of thedevice the branched arms 13 are so bent at 14 as to support suitablejournals for roller 3, whence these arms 13 pass by suitable turns tothe terminals 15, which are conveniently located for throwing the wateron the cups or paddles 5, whereby the same result is acquired as thatabove described.

In the modified form disclosed in Figs. 4'

and 7 the roller 3 is provided with a centrallylocated belt or zone ofcups 5, the brush 4! being divided to give room for said zone of cups.In this form the water is applied directly to the cups or paddles fromthe handle 16, which is connected with the hose, as is the handle 12, asbefore described, the device hein g supported and mounted in a suitableframe 17, which is secured to the handle 16.

In the modified form illustrated in Figs. 5 and 8 the water is suppliedthrough the hollow handle 18, which is connected with a hose, as arehandles 12 and 16. From handle 18 the water is conducted by means of thehollow branched arms 19, on which the rollerbrush is mounted, to theinterior of the roller or shaft 3 which in this form is hollow.

Extending radially from the center of roller 3 at any suitable point onthe roller is a series of small apertures 20, through which issue jetsof water when the device is in use.

The reference-numeral 5 designates small paddles, which areconcave-convex in shape and which are so located as to extend overapertures 20, so that as the water issues from said apertures it strikesagainst these paddles or cups and causes the brush to rotate, the waterpassing from said paddles to the brush and to the surface beingcleansed.

Having thus described my inventlon, what I claim isit 1. In a portablewindow-washer, the combination of a cylindrical brush carrying cups orpaddles adapted to utilize the force of the Water carried to the brush,causing the same to rotate, a bifurcated frame having the brushjournaled in its arms, anda rigid tubularhandle attached to said frameand adapted to carry the water to the brush through the medium ofsuitable attachments or extensions, substantially as described.

2. In a window-washer, the combination, with a cylindrical brush adaptedto be rotated by water carried thereto under pressure, of a bifurcatedframe having the brush journaled in the extremities of its arms, a rigidtubular handle attached to said frame and adapted to carry the water tothe brush through the medium of suitable attachments or connections, anda shield mounted upon the frame and partially surrounding the brush,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HIRAM B. DAVIS.

Witnesses:

WM. McCoNNnLL, G. J. ROLLANDET.

